MX480 Router Rack Requirements
The router can be installed in a rack. Many types of racks are acceptable, including four-post (telco) racks and open-frame racks. An example of an open-frame rack appears in Figure 1.
Rack Size and Strength
The router is designed for installation in a 19-in. rack as defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310-D) published by the Electronics Industry Association (http://www.eia.org).
With the use of adapters or approved wing devices to narrow the opening between the rails, the router fits into a 600-mm-wide rack or cabinet , as defined in the four-part Equipment Engineering (EE); European telecommunications standard for equipment practice (document numbers ETS 300 119-1 through 119-4) published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (http://www.etsi.org).
The rack rails must be spaced widely enough to accommodate the router chassis's external dimensions: 14.0 in. (356 mm) high, 24.5 in. (622 mm) deep, and 17.45 in. (443 mm) wide. The spacing of rails and adjacent racks must also allow for the clearances around the router and rack that are specified in MX480 Router Clearance Requirements for Airflow and Hardware Maintenance.
In general, a center-mount rack is preferable to a front-mount rack because the more even distribution of weight in the center-mount rack provides greater stability.
For instructions about installing the mounting hardware, see Installing the MX480 Router Mounting Hardware for a Rack or Cabinet.
The chassis height of 14.0 in. (35.6 cm) is approximately 8 U. A U is the standard rack unit defined in Cabinets, Racks, Panels, and Associated Equipment (document number EIA-310-D) published by the Electronics Industry Association. You can stack five MX480 routers in a rack that has at least 48 U (84 in. or 2.13 m) of usable vertical space.
The rack must be strong enough to support the weight of the fully configured router, up to 163.5 lb (74.2 kg). If you stack five fully configured routers in one rack, it must be capable of supporting up to 818 lb (371.0 kg).
Figure 1: Typical Open-Frame Rack
Spacing of Mounting Bracket Holes
The router can be mounted in any rack that provides holes or hole patterns spaced at 1 U (1.75 in.) increments. The mounting brackets used to attach the chassis to a rack are designed to fasten to holes spaced at those distances.
Connection to Building Structure
Always secure the rack to the structure of the building. If your geographical area is subject to earthquakes, bolt the rack to the floor. For maximum stability, also secure the rack to ceiling brackets.
